Story by local10.com
More than 6,500 law enforcement officials in Florida will now be able to communicate with other law enforcement agencies in Tallahassee, Hialeah or anywhere else in the state.
Gov. Jeb Bush was in Miami on Friday to announce the implementation of a statewide law enforcement radio system, nicknamed SLERS.
"Now we can safely say that this telecommunications system will allow for the first responders to come and be able to provide the kind of support's that necessary in the first 48 hours without interruption," Bush said.
With SLERS, officers will be able to communicate, regardless of where they are, with other law enforcement officials in all 67 counties in Florida.
"I couldn't communicate when I went from the west coast to the east coast in the state of Florida because we're on different radio systems," Florida Highway Patrol Col. Chris Knight said. "This nullifies all that."
SLERS covers about 59,000 square miles and can even stretch about 25 miles off Florida's coast.
"This technology, which is one of a kind in terms of its statewide exposure -- we're the only state that has it -- will save lives," Bush said.
SLERS is also capable of sending encrypted messages for even greater security.
The state's price tag is $300 million over the next 20 years of the contract.